Amanda Holden is being tipped to step into the This Morning hotseat(Image: (Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images))

Amanda Holden 'set to replace' This Morning's Cat Deeley after 'viewers switch off'

by · DevonLive

Amanda Holden is being tipped as the new face to join This Morning, following reports that viewers have not warmed to Cat Deeley. Woman's Own magazine has suggested that fans of the show have struggled to embrace Deeley since she began presenting the show in March.

The ITV programme reportedly saw a dip in viewership, with one episode attracting fewer than 700,000 viewers in September. Despite this, Cat Deeley, who presents alongside Ben Shephard, commented that she hadn't "really thought about" the audience's reception.

Amanda Holden, known for her role as a judge on Britain's Got Talent, is familiar with the This Morning set. She previously filled in for Holly Willoughby during her maternity leave and made appearances from 2014 to 2019, reports the Express.

Cat and Ben stepped in after Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield departed in 2023, following a scandal involving Schofield which he termed an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a crew member.

Cat Deeley currently presents This Morning with Ben Shephard(Image: (Image: Joe Maher/Getty Images for the NTA's))

The transition to the new hosting duo has not been without its challenges, with reports of scrutiny over their on-screen chemistry. Deeley once told the Sunday Times about the dynamic with Shephard: "Ben will make a joke and it will be, like, 'He snapped at her!'"

ITV had hoped Deeley would help "steady the ship", and in May, the network responded to the ratings drop claims by stating that the show "has never had a better connection with viewers".

Amanda Holden and Phillip Schofield reportedly had a bit of a tiff, with Phillip telling Heat magazine that Amanda keeps him on his "toes" and has a "faulty edit button", which he finds "endearing" but also "occasionally quite scary". When Holly Willoughby took a break to host I'm A Celebrity, Amanda was in line to fill her shoes on This Morning, as reported by the Mirror.

The Britain's Got Talent judge previously said she “loved every minute” on This Morning(Image: (Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images))

However, the Sun suggests she lost out due to Phil's intervention. It was rumoured at the time that although Amanda was a frontrunner for the role, Phillip preferred Rochelle Humes, considering her "easier to manage".

Back in 2017, Amanda expressed her enthusiasm for the position to the Huffington Post: "I loved every minute. Holly is incredible but if she ever does finally hang up her stilettos, that's the job I'd really want to be considered for."

In conversation with Grazia Magazine, she mentioned she would "walk away" from a job if it negatively impacted her or made her dread going to work, emphasising the importance of enjoying her career. Betfair currently lists Amanda Holden at odds of 4/1 to take over, yet Alison Hammond is seen as a more probable choice.

ITV has been contacted for a statement.